Rugby

12:24 AM BST Greg GrowdenESPN Rugby Close After more than 30 years with The Sydney Morning Herald and Fairfax Media in Australia, Greg Growden now writes exclusively online for ESPN. Never afraid to step on toes, you can expect plenty of compelling insight from one of Australia’s most renowned writers. Less than six months ago,

Hong Kong is still the craziest leg of the HSBC World Rugby Seven Series and I cannot wait to run out at the stadium in front of all of those incredible fans wearing their fancy dress and having a real ball. You have some of the best players in the world playing, being watched by

“I believe that he has left an indelible mark on the history of Argentine rugby.” Those were the thoughts of former Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda as he pondered Juan Martin Hernandez’s decision to step away from professional rugby. Hernandez, a mercurial presence on the global game for the past 15 years, has been forced to

2:04 PM BST ESPN staff Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac has revealed he held informal talks about taking the Wales job in 2019 as he ruled out re-signing George North this summer. Warren Gatland is due to step down as Wales boss following next year’s Rugby World Cup, with Pivac believed to be on the Welsh

5:05 PM BST ESPN staff It seems almost inevitable that Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) are moving closer to scrapping relegation from England’s top division. Saracens chairman Nigel Wray has insisted the Aviva Premiership club is in good shape financially despite co-owner Johann Rupert’s decision to withdraw his backing. Following a thrilling

Scrumhalf Nic Groom will be fighting for a Springbok jersey over the next couple of months. English Premiership club Northampton Saints confirmed yesterday that Groom is leaving the team to return to South Africa and play for the Lions in Super Rugby. The former Stormers scrumhalf will be now be illegible to play for the

The struggling Blues were upstaged at home to a firing Sharks, who provided the biggest upset of Round 7, with the South African side claiming their first win on the road in Auckland. Elsewhere, the Rebels couldn’t overcome the Hurricanes, while the Lions looked lost against the Crusaders. Read on for some of the major

2:07 PM BST ESPN staff Champions Cup semifinalists Scarlets are investigating claims of racist chanting during their quarterfinal win over La Rochelle. Allegations of racist abuse towards La Rochelle players emerged on social media following the club’s 29-17 win on Good Friday. “We have a proud history of being a family club and events such

Following a thrilling weekend of knockout European rugby we have a much clearer idea who will lift the Champions and Challenge Cups. Dazzling displays were many, but who really caught the eye, who disappointed and what are the big talking points as we reach the semifinal stage? Player of the weekend Leinster back row Dan

9:01 PM BST ESPN staff Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has accused Saracens of deliberately targeting Johnny Sexton during his side’s Champions Cup quarterfinal victory at the Aviva Stadium. Cullen said there were “three or four instances” during the first half of Leinster’s 30-19 win in Dublin in which his fly-half was taken out either